_________the automobile, the cities grew faster and the suburbs in automobile-intensive cultures developed more quickly.

听力原文： Today we'll examine the role that private transportation-namely，the automobile-plays in city planning.

A number of sociologists blame the automobile for the decline of the downtown areas of major cities. In the 1950's and 1960's，the automobile made it possible to work in the city and yet live in the suburbs many miles away. Shopping patterns changed；instead of going to downtown stores，people in the suburbs went to large shopping malls outside the city and closer to the home. Merchants in the city failed，and their stores closed.

Downtown shopping areas became deserted. In recent years there's been a rebirth of the downtown area，as many suburbanites have moved back to the city. They've done this，of course，to avoid highways blocked with commuters from the suburbs. I've chosen this particular city planning problem-our dependence on private transportation-to discuss in groups. I'm hoping you will all come up with some novel solutions. Oh，and don't approach the problem from a purely sociological perspective；try to take into account environmental and economic issues as well.

(30)

A．It eliminated many factory jobs．

B．It allowed workers to live far from their jobs．

C．It gave workers opportunity for better training．

D．It allowed workers to spend more time at home．

听力原文： Up to now, we have focused on the positive impact of the automobile on society in the United States. Today we'll look at some of the negative effects. A number of sociologists blame the automobiles for the decline of the downtown areas of the major cities. In 1950s and 1960s, the automobile made it possible to work in the cities and yet live in the suburbs many miles away. Shopping patterns changed, and instead of patronizing downtown stores, people in the suburbs went to large shopping malls built in open areas outside the city where everything was cheaper. Merchants in the city failed, and stores closed. Downtown shopping areas became deserted. In recent years, there has been a rebirth in a number of downtown areas, as suburbanites, especially young married couples, have moved into the city to avoid roads covered with the traffic between the suburbs and the cities every morning and evening. Now let's look at some slides that illustrate these trends. By the way, tomorrow I'll explain the effect of all these automobiles on the environment. For example, what happens to the atmosphere as a result of burning of gasoline and the depletion of natural resources like fossil fuels?

(33)

A．It allowed workers to spend more time at home.

B．It gave workers opportunity for better training.

C．It enabled people to live far from their workplace.

D．It eliminated many factory jobs.

Most people in Switzerland live in ______.

A．cities

B．towns

C．the suburbs

D．the countryside

Medieval cities grew rapidly when they had harbors nearby.

A．merchants

B．castles

C．suburb’s

D．ports

Passage One

The Urbanization — migration away from the suburbs to the city center — will be the biggest real estate trend in 2015, according to a new report.

The report says America’s urbanization will continue to be the most significant issue affecting the industry, as cities across the country imitate the walkability and transit-oriented development making cities like New York and San Francisco so successful.

As smaller cities copy the model of these “24-hour cities，”tfiore affordable versions of these places will be created. The report refers to this as the coming of the “18-hour city，”，and uses the term to refer to cities like Houston, Austin, Charlotte, and Nashville, which are “positioning themselves as highly competitive, in terms of livability, employment offerings, and recreational and cultural facilities.”

Another trend that looks significant in 2015 is that America’s largest population group, Millennials (千禧一代)，will continue to put off buying a house. Apartments will retain their appeal for a while for Millennials, haunted by what happened to home-owning parents.

This trend will continue into the 2020s, the report projects. After that, survey respondents disagree over whether this generation will follow in their parents，footsteps, moving to the suburbs to raise families, or will choose to remain in the city center.

Another issue affecting real estate in the coming year will be America’s failing infrastructure. Most roads, bridges, transit, water systems, the electric grid, and communications networks were installed 50 to 100 years ago, and they are largely taken for granted until they fail.

The report’s writers state that America’s failure to invest in infrastructure impacts not only the health of the real-estate market, but also our ability to remain globally competitive.

Apart from the specific trends highlighted above, which cause some investors to worry, the report portrays an overall optimism borne by the recent healthy real-estate “upcycle” and improving economy. Seventy-four percent of the respondents surveyed report a “good to excellent” expectation of real-estate profitability in 2015. While excessive optimism can promote bad investment patterns, resulting in a real- estate “bubble,” the report’s writers downplay that potential outcome in that it has not yet occurred.

According to the new report, real estate development in 2015 will witness_______ .

A.an accelerating speed

B.a shift to city centers

C.a new focus on small cities

D.an ever-increasing demand

Why are Millennials reluctant to buy a house?A.They can only afford small apartments

B.The house prices are currently too high

C.Their parents' bad experience still haunts them

D.They feel attached to the suburban environment

What characterizes “24-hour cities” like New York?A.People can live without private cars

B.People are generally more competitive

C.People can enjoy services around the clock

D.People are in harmony with the environment

What might hinder real estate development in the U.S.?A.The continuing economic recession in the country

B.The lack of confidence on the part of investors

C.The fierce global competition

D.The worsening infrastructure

How do most of the respondents in the survey feel about the U.S. real-estate market in 2015?A.Pessimistic

B.Hopeful

C.Cautious

D.Uncertain

请帮忙给出每个问题的正确答案和分析，谢谢！

The growth of cities and suburbs throughout the region has ______ residents to build houses wherever they could find open land.

A．appealed

B．justified

C．converted

D．encouraged

听力原文：Grocery stores and supermarkets in the inner city and the suburbs may sometimes be run by the same company, but there are often differences in prices for the same product.

(25)

A．Supermarkets in the inner city and the suburbs are usually owned by the same company.

B．Products in grocery stores are more expensive than those in supermarkets.

C．There is a price difference for the same product even in shops run by the same company.

D．People prefer to shop in supermarkets, which are mostly located in the suburbs, with free parking space.

With the fast development and expansion of cities, the ______ suburbs of which become prosperous, too.

A．exterior

B．external

C．outer

D．outside